Introducing our speakers
speech abstract
DTCA and it's influence
The last decade has seen a rising tide of public and professional concern in New Zealand and America about the public health harms caused by direct to consumer advertising of prescription medicines (DTCA). The recent public consultation, affirms that all public and professional groups without commercial vested interest wish the New Zealand Government to ban the practice in order to bring us in line with the rest of the (non US) developed world. Many groups have also repeatedly called on government and the Ministry of Health to address the needs of consumers for Independent Health Information. The current government has clearly and repeatedly stated it recognises the harms caused by DTCA and intended to ban the practice through the mechanism of Trans Tasman Harmonisation. As expected, this omnibus legislation has stalled due to other unrelated issues, most notably the party politics around proposed increased regulation of complementary medicines. Meanwhile Medsafe accord no priority to monitoring the largely ineffective self regulatory system run by the advertisers themselves.
Les Toop and Dee Mangin will summarise the current situation. They will suggest ways forward. A much more politically active stance by those passively supporting a ban is required. Political parties with policies which place profit before health must undertake a closer examination of the evidence of harms caused by DTCA and reflect on the strength and breadth of informed public and professional opinion.
biography
Professor Les Toop is head of the Dept of Public Health and General Practice Christchurch School of Medicine. He has a longstanding interest in pharmaceuticals and in prescriber education. He is past chair of the National Preferred Medicines Centre, past member of the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee and has been actively involved in developing and providing continuing professional education for 20 years, most recently with Pegasus Health. Les has also worked part time in a Christchurch inner city General Practice since 1986.
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